Canadian Parliament debates same-sex marriage today (Wed) - watch live on line

[iverglas]

I posted this in LBN, but I'm taking the liberty of putting it here too for the info of people who might be most interested in listening to a little of the debate.

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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/12/06/same-sex.html

The Conservatives will introduce a controversial motion Wednesday to reopen the issue of same-sex marriage, following through on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's election promise to revisit the issue.

The motion, which is expected to be voted on Thursday, will call on the government to "introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages."

But the motion is not expected to pass. And Harper has said if the House votes against changing the law to allow same-sex marriages, the matter would be settled.

Harper said his caucus and cabinet ministers will be allowed to vote freely on the issue. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who is against the motion, said it's an issue about Charter rights, but has not yet revealed whether he will force his caucus to vote against it.

... Same-sex marriage became legal in Canada last year when Parliament passed Bill C-38 in response to a series of court rulings that gays had the right to marry.

(Party discipline is strong in Canada. Free votes are allowed only on matters that parties regard as matters of "conscience", and a progressive party could not call the equality rights of a minority group a matter of individual MPs' conscience. An MP who votes against his/her leader's directions on a non-free vote can expect to be stripped of any Cabinet or critic or committee position s/he holds, if not turfed from caucus.)

Editorial comment in the Globe and Mail (the Globe being a "conservative" - not necessarily right-wing - newspaper, and Jeffrey Simpson being the embodiment of its editorial stances):
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061206.wsimpson06/BNStory/National/home

The same-sex debate is a meaningless charade
JEFFREY SIMPSON
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Today, when the House of Commons again takes up same-sex marriage, every minute of the debate will be a legal nonsense.

Same-sex marriage has been sanctioned through Charter of Rights interpretations by provincial courts. It's obvious beyond debate that the Supreme Court of Canada would rule likewise.

... But, then, that is likely what the Harper Conservatives intend. A futile debate, with a vote that will end in defeat, is a fine result, assuming a debate has become a political necessity.

For people with an interest in the issue, you can watch debate in the House of Commons live here, starting at 2pm:

http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/parlvuen%2Dca/
Click here:

Wednesday, December 6, 2006 - 02:00 PM EST - 300 Minutes - HoC Sitting No. 94

and select English floor video (or you can select just audio) -- selecting English ensures that you hear the translation of speeches in French.

The debate should begin not too long after 2pm, after routine business, and by special motion will continue until midnight tonight, and be voted on at 3pm Thursday. Tune in anytime; members will be speaking for 5 or 10 minutes each, and each member who speaks can be questioned by other members of all parties.

The interest for people not in Canada would be in seeing how the issue is addressed outside the US, and particularly how the rights of gay men and lesbians are supported and defended by progressive (NDP, Bloc Québécois) and even not so progressive (Liberal, and yes, even some Conservative) politicians.